’cause we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.

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Play It Again, Band

The worship band segues into another song. We sing through the introduction, then launch into the chorus. Then a line or two… and the chorus again. And again. And again. And again. Sixteen repetitions later, we sing the introduction again and the whole process repeats.

The first few minutes are great. I’m focused on God, meaning every word I sing. But by the end of the song, all I can think about is how much I dislike singing the same thing over and over and over. If it makes me this crazy, how could God appreciate this interminable repetition? Is this really how we’re supposed to worship?

Being me, I immediately turned to the Bible and started hunting. I was sure there had to be an applicable verse, something along the lines of “Thou shall not bore God to death singing endless choruses of worship songs.” I was ready to fire off a frustrated email to our worship leader, asking for more intellectually stimulating lyrics. Pretty audacious, wasn’t I?

I opened my favorite online Bible and concordance website and started hunting. Here’s what I found:

Psalm 136. I’m sure I’ve read this before, but I must not have been viewing it as a song. Talk about repetitious—here are the first three verses:

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

And this continues for 23 more verses!

Revelation 4:8-11. This isn’t one song. These living creatures spend eternity singing the same verses. And God obvious likes it, or He would have them sing something else. (Italics mine.)

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”

My oh my! Thanks for sharing!!!! Sometimes I wonder why I keep wanting to say the same thing…. or run a song over and over for an hour or so…. sometimes I feel like it is working in me and the work isn’t done….. He is truly Glorious and I guess we can’t say it enough! I don’t think I would want to push someone else into singing one song over and over…. but for me it is sometimes very good. You have a courageous music team there… 🙂 And you are great to go to the Lord with your griping and see what HE has to say before you dump it out on the next! Thanks for your good example! 🙂